The Independent AI Strategist: Why You Need One (or More)

AI is transforming the world of work in ways we’re only beginning to understand. According to MBO’s State of Independence report, the average independent professional saves nine hours per week using AI. That time was once spent on administrative work, research, data collection, and writing—tasks now easily automated or accelerated. Interest in AI continues to grow, with many professionals eager to adopt these tools and deliver greater value to the organizations they support.

To stay ahead, business leaders need a clear strategy for AI adoption. Many will turn to Artificial Intelligence strategists to guide them through this rapidly evolving landscape. Here’s how these professionals are shaping the future of work across industries.

What Is an AI Strategist?

An AI strategist is a professional who helps businesses understand and implement AI technology to meet their goals. They evaluate AI solutions, guide strategy development, and manage AI deployment while considering ethical concerns.

With the growing use of AI at work, companies must decide how to use it in the right way. The AI strategist works with business leaders to plan and guide AI use within the organization.

Explore: How Is Artificial Intelligence Impacting Independent Work?

Why Do AI Experts Provide Added Value for Companies?

An AI strategist bridges the gap between business and IT teams, ensuring AI initiatives align with company priorities. They help businesses stay competitive by identifying where AI can enhance productivity, automate tasks, and improve customer service, among other tasks.

On the business side, AI professionals can:

• Evaluate AI solutions based on company goals
• Lead discussions to gather ideas and feedback
• Create AI policies
• Design the overall AI strategy
• Monitor and measure the success of AI projects

On the technical side, AI professionals can:

• Research AI technologies based on business goals
• Handle ethical concerns around AI in business systems (like systems with private data)
• Create plans for deploying AI systems

As new tools emerge, their work must adapt to integrate the latest innovations and keep the organization up to date with cutting-edge solutions.

Check Out: 6 Ways to Help Your Workforce Make the Most of AI

Why Should You Have an Independent AI Strategist?

Millions of independent contractors use AI to increase their productivity and value to clients, and more are joining this group every day. Companies can take advantage of this growing pool of experienced, independent AI professionals to improve their own AI skills and find new ways to use AI.

An independent AI strategist can bring knowledge and ideas that may not be available in-house. Since AI strategy is their main focus, these professionals stay up to date on the latest AI tools and know how to apply them in different companies.

To become an AI expert at the top of their field, they must continuously learn to provide ongoing value to clients. This can be a challenge for full-time employees, as they often have numerous other responsibilities.

Some examples of what an independent AI strategist can do include:

• Bringing ideas from other companies and industries to help with AI planning
• Speeding up a company’s AI experiments, thanks to their experience with the technology
• Offering a fresh perspective to identify business processes that can be improved with AI
• Helping identify tasks that AI can enhance
• Designing AI-based services for customers

In some cases, companies may find that hiring a team of artificial intelligence specialists is needed to fully tap into the AI knowledge available in the independent workforce.

Discover: How to Create a Plan to Implement AI in Your Organization

Interested in learning more about building an independent workforce for the future? Reach out to our team at MBO Partners, and we’ll help you take the next step toward success.